A 400L student of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Owerri in Imo State simply identified as Marvelous has allegedly been killed by suspected herdsmen.

The incident took place on Friday morning, leading to confusion among the students and the school management.

A source who pleaded anonymity told ABN TV that the bridge linking Ihiagwa to Obinze has been completely cut off, leading travellers to use only the passage around the school.

According to him, lately, Fulani herdsmen have been grazing their cows around the school area, heightening security concerns.

The deceased who is an operative of Man O' War along with his colleagues were on patrol along a place called 700 Capacity when news filtered in that someone stabbed him with a poisoned dagger on the neck.

All efforts to save his life proved abortive as Federal Medical Centre Owerri pronounced him dead.

Abia State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a 57-year-old man, Mmaduka Ogbonna by his 27-year-old son, Chinalu Ogbonna for alleged ritual purposes.

ABN TV had earlier reported the incident which occurred at the Amazukwu area of Umuahia on Monday night.

Confirming the incident, PPRO of the command, ASP Maureen Chinaka told our correspondent that a report was lodged at CPS Umuahia at about 8am on Tuesday.

"Yes, we got a report today at about 0800hrs at CPS Umuahia. It was a report of a murder case involving Mmaduka Ogbonna, a 57-year-old male, allegedly killed by his son.

"Detectives from CPS Umuahia visited the crime scene and found the deceased’s lifeless body with his left eye gouged out", she said.

According to the command, the suspect who was residing with his father at Umu Eze Road opposite Junior Girls Secondary School Amuzukwu Ibeku, had strangled his father to death before removing his left eye to use it for a money ritual.

He has since been apprehended while an investigation has also commenced. He would be charged to court for murder, the command says.

A 27-year-old man Chinalu Ogbonna has reportedly killed his father, Maduka Ogbonna, 57, and removed his left eye, ABN TV reports.

Sources told ABN TV that the incident happened at midnight on Monday at a compound opposite Junior Secondary School, in Amuzukwu in Umuahia North LGA, Abia State.

Though it is not clear what led to the action, a source privy to the incident told ABN TV that the suspect confessed to have wanted to use his father for ritual.

He has since been apprehended and his father's corpse deposited at the morgue.

Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti says the Geometric Power Project inaugurated by his administration on Monday in Osisioma has the potential of rejuvenating economic and social growth in the state.

The governor stated this in his speech during the project inauguration done by Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

The governor while emphasizing that the project is very special and dear to his heart added that it will position the state as a preferred destination for enterprise growth, family life, and leisure.

He applauded the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, for giving the initial waivers to Geometric, which helped in de-risking the transaction.

He added, "I thank specifically, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, who was the Chairman of Diamond Bank at the time, and who played a significant role in the resolution of the ownership tussle of the ring fence tussle. I cannot fail to recognise Prof. Okey Oramah, who got Afreximbank, his bank, to support the project with the required funding to get to the last mile. Many thanks to Engnr Mele Kyari, the GMD of NNPC, who God used to solve the gas problem.

"This city is very pivotal to the economic trajectory of Nigeria and the West Africa region, and I knew for a fact that if we got the fundamentals right, Aba would not just be a city that makes millionaires of dreamers, it would become, a land of solutions to the many socio-economic problems that assail us – including worrisome level of youth unemployment and pervasive poverty.

"My faith in Aba as an economic powerhouse meant that when I first saw the proposal for the Geometric Integrated Power Plant, I knew I had to be involved immediately because if just 50% of what had been proposed could be achieved, the industrial output from this great city and its environs would triple and millions of new jobs would be created directly and indirectly in the short to medium term.

Former Governor of Abia State and Chairman Senate Committee on Privatization, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu has called in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider its decision to embark on a nationwide protest over lingering hardship in the country.

The Abia North Senator in a video release obtained by ABN TV urged NLC and its affiliate unions to instead explore dialogue with the federal government to press home its demands.

Labour has repeatedly said that the current minimum wage of N30,000 is not in tandem with the current economic reality, which has seen prices of goods and services soar.

It is calling for a review, urging the government to pay N200,000 minimum wage.

Sen. Kalu while admitting that there is hunger all over Nigeria assured that the legislature is working with the executive arm of government to bring measures that will reduce the hardship faced by many Nigerian families.

According to the lawmaker, it is not time for demonstration and destruction of public assets, but to work for the unity of the country.

Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of Abia State, Hon. Obi Aguocha has expressed regret over the damage done at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) in a recent protest by students of the institution, saying it's huge and heartbreaking.

He said it would cost at least N2bn to fix the damages which include burnt down buildings, windows and doors shattered, fences felled, and other infrastructural damages.

He told ABN TV on Friday that he has met with the management of the university to see ways the school could be reopened for academic activities to resume so that final-year students could complete their examinations.

ABN TV recalls that the students had engaged in demonstration on Tuesday over a new policy of the school which mandates students to complete the payment of their fees before they could be allowed to take part in examinations.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe accused miscreants of being responsible for the attack.

Hon. Aguocha said he visited communities bordering the institution, including the traditional ruler of Amaoba community, His Royal Majesty, Eze Otuwa, his Elders-in-Council, and Traditional Cabinet with a view to ascertain the remote and immediate cause of the crisis.

"The level of destruction in the institution, the buildings that were burnt, the windows that were broken, the university fences that were felled, for me it should not have been so.

"It would require about N2bn to reconstruct fully, to bring the university the way it was before the crisis", he noted.

The lawmaker noted that no level of aggravation warrants the level of damage done on the infrastructure of the university.

He therefore appealed to the management of the university to consider reopening it for resumption of academic activities.

According to him, a committee has been set up by the university which will liaise with him on the amicable resolution of the issues.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration of the Abia State University, ABSU, Prof Godwin Emezue has been released after spending 11 days in the hands of his Kidnappers, ABN TV reports.

Prof Godwin Emezue who was kidnapped on Friday 26th January 2024 inside a fueling Station around Umuahia North LGA in Abia State, and whisked away by his Kidnappers was released on Tuesday Night after a ransom of 25Million was paid by his Family which was a condition for his release by his Kidnappers.

It was gathered that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of 35Million from his family, they however threatened to kill him after the family pleaded with a cash of N5million.

The Kidnappers who had shown footage of how they tortured the Professor threatened to kill him if the family fails to pay N20million before the end of Saturday, the traumatized family rallied and raised the money which they gave in Cash to the Kidnappers who issued a warning against involving Security agencies.

However his kidnappers demanded an additional 5 Million, claiming that they had instructions to K!ll him but may not want to do that for the New Year, the family with the support of his Friends and Abia State University raised the money which was sent again to the Kidnappers.

The management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike Abia State has announced the indefinite shutting down of the academic institution.

This is owing to protest by students of the school on Tuesday which led to alleged vandalisation of valuables in the school, a protest the Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe described as activities of miscreants.

In a release on Tuesday made available to ABN TV, Prof. Iwe dismissed insinuation that the students staged the protest over refusal of the school management to allow them take part in first-semester exam in connection with non-payment of school fees, saying about 70% percent of students have made payment while thousands of others were in queue to pay before the “miscreants” struck.

He said, “Miscreants took over the University, chasing and pursuing the Vice-Chancellor, damaging his official vehicle and those of his officials claiming that they were not allowed to take their 1 Semester examination owing to their failure to pay their charges.

“The University’s record show that more than 70% of the students had paid their charges and were peacefully taking their examinations, while more than two thousand were in the que to pay and register their courses before the miscreants and hoodlums took the stage to cause trouble and disrupted the long-standing peace of the University.

Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has said he left at least $4bn balance sheet generated from his companies in 1998 before joining politics, saying he didn't start life as a politician but businessman.

The former Abia governor said before 1998, he built business entities, particularly in the media, oil, and gas sector, shipping, airlines, and others.

In a social media post, Sen. Kalu said he had enough resources to fund his former party the PDP, when he joined politics in 1998.

He said, "I built several entities (businesses particularly in the media, oil, and gas sector, shipping, airlines, and others), and in 1998,  I left more than a $4 Billion balance sheet in my companies before venturing into politics".

He wondered why people like him are expected to be penniless while those who have done next to nothing parade themselves as achievers.

He noted further, "In 1998, I used my resources to fund the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), my former party, and certain personalities. I built several entities (businesses particularly in the media, oil, and gas sector, shipping, airlines, and others).

"Today, those who have done next to nothing in the private sector are the ones parading themselves as achievers and saints. Whereas the real face of the organized private sector and other accomplished personalities like myself who have worked tirelessly and multiplied investments are expected to be penniless.

"Even though I have had my ups and downs, the fact is that I didn't start life as a politician. I am a businessman, a  capitalist with a human face."

Abia State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the state-owned university, Abia State University Uturu, Prof. Godwin Emezue on Friday by unidentified hoodlums, assuring that he will be safely rescued.

He was kidnapped at about 7pm while purchasing fuel at a petrol station in Umuekwu Amachara, Umuahia South LGA, Abia State, PPRO of the command, ASP Maureen Chinaka said in a statement.

ABN TV reports that the varsity don's wife who was in his company during the incident had her ATM card confiscated by the hoodlums.

The command says it is deploying resources and assets including intelligence and technical aid towards unravelling the crime, and safely rescuing the victim from his captors.

Chinaka said, "We urge Abians to remain calm and continue their legitimate activities while maintaining vigilance and being security conscious

Personnel of Abia State police command have arrested five suspected armed robbers who pretended to be officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and dispossessed some students of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike of their phones at gunpoint, and forced them to transfer a total of 120,000 naira to their account.

The crime was allegedly committed on Tuesday, 23/01/2024.

This is contained in a statement on Saturday signed by ASP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer of Abia State Command made available to ABN TV.

She said, "Upon receipt of this information, officers from Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia commenced an investigation and visited the crime scene where they arrested three men from the Man o War base MOAU", she said.

She listed the suspects to include, Onyedikachi Ihechukwumere ‘M’ (25 years), Onwuka Christopher ‘M’ (26 years), and Tochukwu Obinna ‘M’ (30 years).

Exhibits recovered from them include, 3 out of the 6 stolen phones, and a tricycle with REG No. HAF 011VG FLEET NO 5868, which was used to facilitate their criminal act.

Additionally, on Wednesday 24/01/2024, one James Prince Victor ‘M’ (39 years) of Ohuhu Umuahia North, who claimed to be an EFCC personnel who also led the Man O War suspects to the student lodge at Enyioma Christ Lodge Umudike was arrested together with Chidozie Onwuzuruike ‘M’ (40 years) of same address.

Items recovered from them include, 4 red-coloured jackets with EFCC inscriptions, two EFCC ID Cards, One of the stolen phones, One toy gun, and Four EFCC search warrants.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu, ABSU, Prof. Godwin Emezue has been abducted by unidentified gunmen, ABN TV reports.

Prof. Emezue was abducted in a filling station around Umuekwule, Amachara in Umuahia South LGA where he has gone to refill his tank, along with his wife.

Sources told ABN TV that no fewer than three men had accosted him at the fuel station, dragging him into an already waiting Lexus SUV and collected his wife’s ATM card.

Prominent Abia citizens have continued to demonstrate solidarity with ABN TV following the invasion of the studio in Umuahia on Tuesday by policemen from the state command.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxmm-kakG6o

The latest is coming from the Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, Interpol Systems Consultant and security consultant, Sir Chikwe Udensi, member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa and others.

They condemned the action of the policemen, saying it is invasion of privacy and violation of rights.

The police personnel had during a live programme stormed the studio, forcefully taking a guest Mr Udensi Bernard who appeared on the programme ‘Youth Rendezvous’.

They claimed that a senior brother of Udensi had written a petition against him over a family matter.

Following the invasion, human rights groups, prominent personalities and civil society organizations have said the invasion is an attack on freedom of speech.

The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Kene Onwuemelie has apologized to the management of ABN TV during a visit to ascertain equipment damaged during the invasion.